Category: Extracts

Hugh Bertram Neely was 2nd-Lieutenant of the 3rd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (attached to 1st Battalion). He was the second son of William and Clare Neely, of Ruxley House, Widmore Road, Bromley. His brother Clive William Neely also fell in World War 1 in Basra. Hugh was educated at Quernmore School, Lancing College and then to Rouen. He entered the Medical School at Guy’s hospital where he took the Licentiate in Dental Surgery. He was noted as being a clever and able student. He then went on to start a dental practice at…

James William Hodson, a native of Orpington, was a member of the 2nd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. His parents, William and Mary Ann Hodson, lived at 1 Bank Cottages, Lower Rd., St. Mary Cray, Kent. He was killed in action on the 21st May 1915, aged 23 Featured in the Bromley & District Times, 24th May 1918, page 4 He is buried at Woburn Abbey Cemetery, Cuinchy in Pas de Calais, France. His grave stone is inscribed with the words “GONE FROM US BUT NOT FORGOTTEN NEVER SHALL HIS MEMORY FADE” Researched using www.militaryancestors.co.uk…

Edward Butcher was the younger son of Mr William Butcher of Spout Hill Cottage, West Wickham. Prior to World War 1, he was a member of the Territorial Force (Croydon) for 7 years and joined the Queen’s Surrey Regiment about 2 years before the war broke out. He was in the band, a First Class Drummer. He went to the Front at the beginning of the war. He was killed at the retreat of Mons on the 15th September 1914, and buried at Moulins and a memorial service was held…

Walter Bax was part member of a large family of boys, who were all in the Army. The son of Mr Alfred W. Bax and Clara E. Bax, of 17 North Road, Bromley, Kent. He was brother to Private George Bax. Walter was an old boy of Wharton Road School in Bromley and had worked for a time for Mr Cox, fruiterer. Before World War 1 he had joined the 5th Dragoon Guards, but was invalided out after 2 years’ service. He rejoined the Royal Field Artillery in October 1914, and after training…

George Bax was the son of Mr Alfred Bax, of North Road, Bromley. Brother to Gunner Walter Bax He joined up when war broke out and was at Tilbury Fort, an artillery fort on the north bank of the River Thames, London. He was a member of the 4th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. [source: Bromley & District Times, 21st May 1915, page 9]

FEEDING THE GUN ON BROMLEY’S BATTLEFIELD “No Man’s Land” from the Trenches £70,000 raised: How the Money Came in In an effort to raise money to pay for the war, the Government sold War Bonds. Bromley supported this in great patriotic spirit. In 1917, a tank – ‘Tank Drake’ had toured the country and came to Bromley to the Market Square. When members of the public bought war bonds they could have their bonds and certificates stamped at the tank. There were displays of aircraft dropping leaflets and the band…

On 4th October 1918, there was a report in the Bromley & District Times on a CHILD WELFARE EXHIBITION ‘An important feature of Bromley Baby Week, which was opened at the Public Library on Wednesday afternoon of last week by the Hon Mrs Eustace Hills, with Mayoress (Mrs Fillet) in the chair. The exhibition was prepared and conducted under the Child and Welfare and Health Committee of the National Union of Women Workers, and was a most interesting and instructive character, the exhibits being arranged under such headings as “Guidance for the Expectant…

1st Class Stoker Fred Arthur Foot, the son of William Foot of Hartford Lane, Bexley, served on board the HMS Test. He died of pneumonia while on duty in the Grand Fleet on the 24th Mar 1915, aged just 19. His funeral was held at St Mary’s, Bexley on the 19th April 1915. [source: www.militaryancestors.co.uk]

2nd Lieutenant J L Miller-Hallett (possibly John Lionel) was the youngest son of Mr & Mrs A Miller-Hallett of Goddington near Chelsfield, Orpington. He was a member of the Indian Army attached to the 3rd Fusilliers, and passed into the Indian Army at outbreak of war from Sandhurst College. His brother, 2nd-Lieutenant J A Miller-Haller had obtained his commission in the 11th Battalion South Wales Borderers and was stationed at Colwyn Bay. J L Miller-Hallett was twice wounded in action on the Western Front. First in June 1915, when it was reported in the Bromley &…

Private Frank Offin was one of 3 brothers who served in the First World War. His father, Mr F Offin, lived in Vale Cottages, Mason’s Hill, Bromley. He was a member of the 6th (Service) Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, stationed at Purfleet. [source: www.militaryancestors.co.uk]

Hugh Bertram Neely, 2nd Lieu., was first-class sportsman and Dentist, who died in a partially ruined village church near Ypres on 25th April 1915. His brother Clive died the following year. footstepstothepast.c…pic.twitter.com/Gba9…

Private Ronald Young Hedderwick of the Honourable Artillery Company. He was killed by a sniper having just woken up on the 16th May 1915. He grave is inscribed with the words 'HE FOUGHT HIS WAY TO EVERLASTING LIFE MET BY HIS GOD'S… footstepstothepast.c…pic.twitter.com/eaB2…